Retama: Run Zeal Run wins duel

Run Zeal Run gave his rider, Omar Rodriguez, his first North American stakes win Friday night, when he drove to a one-length win in the $40,000 J.R. Straus Memorial. The race was the opening night feature at Retama Park.

Run Zeal Run ($12.40) dueled through fractions of 22.16 and 44.94 seconds before going on to cover the six furlongs in 1:09.77.

War Bridle finished second, and it was another four lengths back in third to Charming Socialite, who was part of an entry and was a slight favorite over fourth-place finisher Captain Malory.

Rodriguez rode Run Zeal Run for trainer George Northrop Jr. Run Zeal Run has now won 14 of 38 starts for Schmidt's Indian Hill Farm LLC.

* Attendance was 4,519, and handle on the nine-race card was $556,472.